Dyatlov Pass incident

[Herlock Sholmes]

Well I just finished Dead Mountain. The author proposes the Infrasound theory which sounded a bit mad to me initially until I read it. The phenomena is backed by genuine science so it’s not a kind of fringe thing. There’s no way of proving this of course but an expert on the subject pointed out that the domed shape of the top of the mountain is the ideal shape for creating infrasound. The author had initially wondered if Boot Rock was ideal for it but apparently it’s too uneven and jagged (apparently architects design buildings with plenty of shaped and indentation to avoid the creation of infrasound. It creates disorientation, nausea, fear, irrational behaviour and more. The authors suggested scenario appears quite plausible and explains pretty much everything. Whether it’s the solution or not is another matter. The book is definitely worth reading though. The avalanche theory gets dismissed (I’m not saying correctly or incorrectly)

Of the theories that I’ve read of so far Id certainly eliminate The Mansi, an animal (like a bear,) a Yeti, or a UFO. I’m not a fan of ‘lights in the sky’ type explanations for anything but there were people claiming to have seen ‘fireballs.’ Maybe it’s not impossible that whatever these were (natural phenomena or something being tested, like weapons) they might have triggered an avalanche? The escaped Gulag prisoner seems very unlikely and I’m not keen on the spying/assassin team scenario either.

One thing that this book did tell me, and the point maybe contested elsewhere, is that the radiation levels found were next to nothing. The levels would have had to have been 50 to 100 times more to have been a concern. This kind of contamination can occur naturally and be transmitted through the air.

[Herlock Sholmes]

Whether that was a deliberate choice, an oversight, or perhaps something that was required as part of their hiking grades, I don't know.

I was not aware that hiking grades were involved but I looked it up and apparently that was the case. Interesting.

c.d.

If the hike had been successful they would have all gained their grade 3’s which would have allowed them to teach (hiking I assume) as a Master Of Sport. The route that was agreed upon was classified as sufficiently difficult to justify the grade 3 award. I believe that grade 3 was the highest although I’m not certain.

[c.d.]

Whether that was a deliberate choice, an oversight, or perhaps something that was required as part of their hiking grades, I don't know.

I was not aware that hiking grades were involved but I looked it up and apparently that was the case. Interesting.

c.d.

[Joshua Rogan]

Euuuggghh! I can see some potential for a nasty mishap there.

Thank goodness for She-wees nowadays!!

One of the items found in the tent was a bucket....

[Joshua Rogan]

Hmmmmm!

The humorous newspaper that the hikers created on the trek says " Team of radio technicians including com. Doroschenko and Kolmagrova has set a new world record in portable stove assembly- 1 hour 02 min. 27.4 sec"

That would imply to me that they had been using the stove during the trek, just perhaps not on the final night.

I remember reading that it was found unassembled, but I don't recall it being stated that it hadn't been used on the trek at all.

I'm working from memory here too though, so may be wrong.

That made me chuckle too.

It also explains, perhaps, why they didn't set it up unless absolutely necessary.

[Joshua Rogan]

I had always assumed that the stove found still being in the box meant that it had never been used but I think as Ms. D. said it could simply mean it had not been used that night. And if would have had to have been in a box in order to be transported.

There are several references to the group preparing for a "cold night". Which seems obvious in respect to the weather, but I think means without heating the tent.

My assumption is that the stove was wood fuelled and that since they were camped way above the treeline they didn't have any fuel to run it, so didn't bother setting it up that night.
Whether that was a deliberate choice, an oversight, or perhaps something that was required as part of their hiking grades, I don't know.

But then you still have the water question. The only thing I can think of is that they got into camp late and very exhausted and decided to go to sleep rather than spend time assembling the stove and melting snow which is very time consuming. So just accepting being uncomfortably dehydrated and possibly addressing it the next day with a rest day devoted to obtaining water.

There are references I think in one of the diaries to them making coffee on earlier days so I suspect they definitely used the stove for that. Unless they just built a small fire. Or liked their coffee iced.

[c.d.]

I had always assumed that the stove found still being in the box meant that it had never been used but I think as Ms. D. said it could simply mean it had not been used that night. And if would have had to have been in a box in order to be transported.

But then you still have the water question. The only thing I can think of is that they got into camp late and very exhausted and decided to go to sleep rather than spend time assembling the stove and melting snow which is very time consuming. So just accepting being uncomfortably dehydrated and possibly addressing it the next day with a rest day devoted to obtaining water.

c.d.

[Ms Diddles]

Whether the stove had been used or not depends on what account you read like so many other "facts" in this case.

c.d.

That's exactly it c.d.

There are so many conflicting accounts and it's so hard to assess their credibility from this distance.

I think that is largely what creates all the mystery on this one.

[c.d.]

Whether the stove had been used or not depends on what account you read like so many other "facts" in this case.

c.d.

[Ms Diddles]

I was wondering about the shape and type of tent seeing as it slept 9 people (and could have accommodated 10 of course) The diagram shows a tent with 2 sloping sides rather than one of those larger family type tents so the torch couldn’t have sat on top of it. I’d been trying to picture the torch actually sitting on top of the tent but perhaps it was just lying on top of a collapsed part?

I've just read in the book that Barn recommended that the tent actually consisted of two tents stitched together.

That does ring a vague bell, but the authors then go on to state that the tent was designed for use in forested areas where it could be supported by tree branches.

They seem to think there's something suspicious about it being pitched on a slope above the treeline.

I've no idea where they're going with that.

It's probably best that I shut up and just read the book I post anything about It's contents though!

[Ms Diddles]

I have always wondered why they did not use the stove they carried. If I recall correctly it had never been taken out of the box so it not functioning can be ruled out. Skiing all day in the backcountry with a heavy pack would have left them extremely dehydrated. Snow had to be melted for drinking water and I don't recall there being any accounts of evidence of a fire. So what did they do for water?

c.d.

Hmmmmm!

The humorous newspaper that the hikers created on the trek says " Team of radio technicians including com. Doroschenko and Kolmagrova has set a new world record in portable stove assembly- 1 hour 02 min. 27.4 sec"

That would imply to me that they had been using the stove during the trek, just perhaps not on the final night.

I remember reading that it was found unassembled, but I don't recall it being stated that it hadn't been used on the trek at all.

I'm working from memory here too though, so may be wrong.

[c.d.]

I have always wondered why they did not use the stove they carried. If I recall correctly it had never been taken out of the box so it not functioning can be ruled out. Skiing all day in the backcountry with a heavy pack would have left them extremely dehydrated. Snow had to be melted for drinking water and I don't recall there being any accounts of evidence of a fire. So what did they do for water?

c.d.

[Ms Diddles]

I will always recall the time I took a young lady backpacking for her first time. We are out in the middle of nowhere when she tells me she has to go to the bathroom. I say okay. She then asks what she needs to do. I ask her if she just has to pee or is it more serious? She says more serious. I then tell her in great detail the process she has to go through. She looks at me and says I have to do what???? Then says I think I will just try to hold it till we get back. What a trooper.

c.d.

Hehehe!

She sounds like a keeper!

[c.d.]

I will always recall the time I took a young lady backpacking for her first time. We are out in the middle of nowhere when she tells me she has to go to the bathroom. I say okay. She then asks what she needs to do. I ask her if she just has to pee or is it more serious? She says more serious. I then tell her in great detail the process she has to go through. She looks at me and says I have to do what???? Then says I think I will just try to hold it till we get back. What a trooper.

c.d.

[Ms Diddles]

People do take pee bottles into the tent with them in really cold conditions. Hopefully they marked the bottle in such a way to distinguish it from their water bottle.

c.d.

Euuuggghh! I can see some potential for a nasty mishap there.

Thank goodness for She-wees nowadays!!